Likud Minister: 'We Must Stop the Rocket Fire on the South'

Likud Minister Silvan Shalom told Be'er Sheva residents during a solidarity visit Sunday to a school hit by a missile, "We must stop this."

By Chana Ya'ar

First Publish: 8/21/2011, 2:15 PM

Silvan Shalom

Flash 90

Likud Minister for Development of the Negev and Galilee Silvan Shalom traveled to Be'er Sheva early Sunday afternoon to visit a school which on Sunday morning sustained a direct hit by a Grad Katyusha missile.

It was only by a miracle that the school had not been packed with children. At this late date in August, the school is empty due to summer vacation both from classes and the end of day camp programs.

“We must take every possible action against those responsible and the infrastructure in order to stop the rocket fire on the south,” Shalom told reporters.

A total of six missiles reached Be'er Sheva before noon, but at least two were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. One landed on the aforementioned school building. Another exploded on a road, and two landed in open areas on the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, the director of an emergency counseling service, David Cohen, advised listeners in an interview on local southern radio station Radio Darom early Sunday afternoon, “Do whatever you can to stay calm, especially if you hear the air raid siren.”

In response to a question from the radio announcer as to how a young mother might be able to do that if she is home alone with small children, and frightened, Cohen recommended “staying on the phone with a friend, taking a drink of water, controlling your breathing, and above all be sure to follow the directions of Home Front Command.”

The emergency 24-hour “first aid” counseling hotline for those who are suffering from trauma, anxiety and/or depression can be reached by dialing: 1201.

Likud Minister for Development of the Negev and Galilee Silvan Shalom traveled to Be'er Sheva early Sunday afternoon to visit residents near the school that was struck. “We must take every possible action against those responsible and the infrastructure in order to stop the rocket fire on the south,” Shalom told reporters.Meanwhile, the director of an emergency counseling service, David Cohen, told listeners in an interview on local southern radio station Radio Darom early Sunday afternoon, “Do whatever you can to stay calm, especially if you hear the air raid siren.”In response to a question from the radio announcer as to how a young mother might be able to do that if she is home alone with small children, hears the Color Red incoming rocket alert siren and is frightened, Cohen recommended “staying on the phone with a friend, taking a drink of water, controlling your breathing, and above all be sure to follow the directions of Home Front Command.”The emergency 24-hour “first aid” counseling hotline for those who are suffering from trauma, anxiety and/or depression can be reached by dialing: 1201.